US embassy cable - 05ADANA201

UNCLAS ADANA 000201 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, ADANA, Press Summaries 
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR NOVEMBER 1, 2005 
 
 
This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for November 01, 
2005.  Please note that Turkish press reports often contain 
errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for 
the accuracy of the reports summarized here. 
 
POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
ZAMAN:  A bomb, probably a sound bomb, which was placed in a 
police station 300 kilometers away from the Van Security 
Directorate, exploded at 4.40 p.m. yesterday.  Since police 
officers were having their iftaar dinners, the bomb caused no 
casualties. 
 
ZAMAN:  BBP (Grand Unity Party) reacted to the press's 
recent reporting on the new party logo of the newly formed DTP 
(Democratic Society Party), which used a rose image.  Deputy 
national chairperson of BBP said that the rose was a symbol 
identified with their own party logo and it was unacceptable for 
them to share that identity with "supporters of separatism." 
 
ZAMAN / BOLGE:  Aytac Durak, Mayor of Adana, will go to China 
to make a presentation at the Summmit of International Union of 
Municipalities and Local Administration Boards about relevant 
activities in Adana. 
 
RADIKAL / CUMHURIYET / SABAH:   It was found out that seven of the 
girls aged between 13 and 18 staying at a student residence in 
Sanliurfa fled from their residences, and two of them attempted 
to commit suicide because of the alleged violence and sexual 
harassment committed by the residence director (see press 
summary 10/31).  An investigation has been started against the 
director. 
 
CUMHURIYET:     CHP (Republican People's Party)  Provincial 
Chairperson Serdar Seyhan criticized Azim Ozturk, Seyhan 
District Mayor from AKP, for not attending the wreath laying 
ceremony to pay respect to Ataturk in Adana's Inonu Park or the 
official parade organized to celebrate the 82nd anniversary in 
Adana on October 29 (see press summary 10/31). 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   Mother and Child Medical Education Center in 
Diyarbakir announced that typhoid fever and hepatitis were very 
common in the region. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   A 12-year old shepherd was seriously wounded 
when a mine he stepped on allegedly exploded in a military zone 
in Hakkari's Yuksekova district. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   Four people were wounded as a result of a 
fight between children that led to a bigger fight with guns and 
knives between members of two clans in Adana. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   Police intervened with armored vehicles when a 
group of people in Mersin attempted to stage a protest against 
authorities not allowing attorneys and relatives of Abdullah 
Ocalan to see him in his prison cell on the Imrali island. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   DEHAP (Democratic People's Party), DTP 
(Democratic Society Party), Democratic Free Women's Movement, 
Goc-Der (Migrants' Social Assistance and Culture Association) 
and THAYD-DER (Prisoners' Relatives Association) members 
gathered at the headquarters of THAYD-DER in Adana and protested 
the new Anti-Terror Law.  The group faxed a letter to the 
Ministry of Justice demanding that Abdullah Ocalan's attorneys 
and relatives be allowed to meet with Ocalan. 
 
OZGUR GUNDEM:   The daily reported that a man locked his 
daughter to a chicken coop in Hakkari's Yuksekova district. 
Reportedly, the daughter's husband, a while after they were 
married, "returned" the woman to her father's house alleging 
that she was mentally ill.  Since then, the father kept his 
daughter locked in a chicken's coop.  However, the neighbors and 
witnesses are claiming that she was not mentally ill.  Women's 
rights activists have reacted strongly to the case. 
 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS 
 
ZAMAN:  Tradesmen in Hatay are looking forward to the 
arrival of 30,000 Syrians to the city during the Ramadan 
holiday.  The Syrians coming to the city will boost the economy. 
 
 
 
REID